Before I decided to buy my 2005 SL, I had sent away for an Infinity G35 Sedan catalog. I got in in the mail yesterday and was suprised to see that they are getting 298 HP out of the 3.5 engine the same as the engine in the Maxima that get 265 horses out of it. That make me wonder if we could see 298 hourse in maximas future? Anyone heard anything on that? I also wonder if a AWD option will be available. Just curious.

kirkster

 

if it makes it to that level of power, it would have to go AWD b/c it will be undriveable otherwise.

G is RWD and can handle the power. Talking to Nissan there are no plans whatsoever to go to AWD on the Max. You'll be looking at over 4000lbs and the price increase would make it an Infiniti. Max will stay FWD mostly b/c it's leading sales are in the NE.

Nissan is making it simple. Max for FWD. Z or Infiniti for RWD. and Infiniti for AWD.

 

NismoMax, good point I forgot the G was RWD. I suspect the max will get some kind of a face lift or freshening for '06. Any specuation as to what that might be? I'm thinking the front grille and some interior upgrades. I like my car, but some of the interior componets do not look like they belong in a 30K+ car. My '02 Max had an interior that went along with it's price.

 

I have heard from a very very very good source at nissan that the next gen will most likely become RWD. I asked the question why does the turning radius suck so bad in these. The reply hinted that it will get better when the car goes RWD. Who knows what will happen?

 

I like the idea of AWD or RWD, it will make the maxima compete with the rest of them in that area (bmw, benz, etc)

 

Yeah, I am with you on that one, I completely hope that nissan will up the hp in the 7th gen, and hopefully by that time the Max will be AWD or RWD, it would really make since, because if they want to compete they need to up the hp, and the only way to be able to drive the Max with more hp is to take it to RWD or AWD. Although I see it being more RWD. Oh well I can only speculate that this is what the 7th gen will be, will have to wait about 2 years till we see what they really do with it.

 

who wants AWD with $3/gal of gas? personally my Max is staying with me over the next few generations. If I ever find the means for an extra car, I may get a RWD summer car (but doubt it).

some guys entertain me: brand new car and not satified/looking for what's next. For me, I only bought this car b/c it has every feature I wanted and more. If not, I would have waited until what I wanted was available or I could afford it.

I just like the balance (features/performance/price). I mod to personalize her from others. I'm completely satisfied with stock (can't really afford more anyway). Only cars that had close to the performance and extras cost $10-20k more.

Basically, for my needs: under $30k, FWD, VQ, DPP and Exterior appearance, my only option was the Maxima. you add AWD and it is not appealing to me. More $$ for sticker price and gas. But I'm sure many would love it. I'll be visting your 7th or more likely 8th Gen forums to see how you're doing w/ the same amount of Maxima love I do now.

 

I agree completely here. I bought this car because of the bang for the buck. It's got a ton of features and is pretty fast stock. I also mod to make mine stand out. Got tint so far and next will probably be a spoiler, then grill. I have little interest in performance mods. Although one day I will probably do the exhaust to give her more of a growl.

 

Hey guys have you seen the AZEAL concept on motortrend.com? The nose of the car is a MAXIMA front. The headlights are the same, the angle of the bumper corners and the hood... its the same car.

http://motortrend.com/autoshows/cove.../index9.html#2

You know how concept cars are just ideas thrown into the air? Well, I think this is just too much of a similarity... maybe the 7th gen will look just like this! Here are some pics of the AZEAL, taken from Ramberg's car domain page. Sorry Ram, but I had to post this!!!

http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/519002/7

 

Well I guess that you never know, that could be what the Maxima would look like in the 7th gen, but I am not sure how a bigger version of that car would look, it might look really funny.

 

At most maybe very small design cues that will be common to all Nissans. But in general, this little concept car is nowhere close in size/market segment

 

Here's another pic....



Front end is virtually the same...

 

Infiniti is the 'upscale Nissan', and Infiniti's Maxima equivalent (G35) must have clear differentiation from the Maxima. That differentiation is primarily in HP, RWD/AWD and price.

Because of Nissan's Infiniti-Maxima balancing setup, I don't see the Maxima going to RWD. I would not be surprised if an AWD version of the Maxima might possibly be available with gen 7. That would not be an easy move, as AWD adds hundreds of pounds of weight and thousands of dollars. One of the wonderful things about the Maxima is that it has many of the goodies of $40K or $50K cars for $30K. Nissan must be careful to keep that advantage.

For '06, I don't expect many changes. There will be the mandatory 'half-gen' front and rear facia tweaks, which will involve no changes in the body shape. A color (possibly two) might be added. One color may be dropped.

The HP may be upped by ten or fifteen, primarily because of the TL, which is the Maxima's most notable competition. That would be more of a 'selling' feature than a performance feature, as the Maxima already has about as much power as can be comfortably handled by a FWD vehicle.

Nissan could broaden the options available through the keyfob, like maybe making remote starting standard for all Maximas. Or maybe make auto-dimming outside mirrors standard on all Maximas. Or make the interior look more upscale. Or . . . but we will know fairly soon, as production on the '06 should begin in about three and a half months.

Two things we already know:

1 - The '06 Maxima will have an active tire air pressure monitoring system. Federal requirements for this take effect in early 2007, and, as Nissan will be making no changes on the '07 Maxima, this change will be on the '06. I would bet Nissan opts for the refined system which gives independent readings (via wireless transmission) for each tire, rather than the primitive system which simply indicates at least one tire has less pressure than the others (determined by a differential in wheel rotation speed).

2 - There will be nothing super-dramatic with the '06, as there never is with the 'half' generations. Anything truly dramatic would have already leaked out by now.

The one situation that might lead Nissan to spring a surprise of some kind with the '06 Maxima is the fact that will be the 25th anniversary edition. But, most likely, that fact will be denoted simply by adding a monogram or logo or sticker, etc, rather than any significant change.

As much as I love my Maxima, I have always been one who eagerly anticipates what the next gen might look like. I guess that is human nature.


edit -

I am positive VDC (vehicle dynamic control) will become standard on the Maxima (and on the few compe***itors that don't already have it). The only question is whether this will happen with the '06 or with gen 7. The full-size spare on matching alloy wheel will then become a stand-alone option priced between $500 and $600.

 

Awesome write up, Light. I am much like you and wonder what the 7th gen Max will be. I do expect Nissan will do something to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Max, but not sure if it will be big or miner, if it were big I would think we would already have heard of it. I think that the tire pressure system would be really cool and hope that they do put it in the 7th gen, especially since run flat tires are becoming popular. You are probably right that the 6.5th gen Max will receive minor exterior changes and hopefully minor interior changes. I wonder when the stuff about the 7th gen Max will start to come out, because by now they have to have starting designing it, because it will not be too long before the 7th gen will be out (2 years).

 

I keep on thinking, the next MAX will have a front bumper like the Azeal does. It would make it look more like the Z, which was the main purpose of the style change on the 6th. Remember how there were thoughts of dropping the Maxima name and naming the car Z-sedan????

 

Who knows, it might look like the front of the Azeal, but I think that would look kind of funny. I don't think I remember hearing about them changing the name of the Maxima to the Z-sedan.

 

I agree if the 6th gen had the quality.... more luxury looking/materials like the 5.5 gen it would be that much better. Most people knock the 6th gen for that where as the 5.5 gen never was knocked for that. Thats one of the main reasons my wife went with her 05 G35 for a replacement for her 350z.

 

As an interior upgrade will the next gen Maxima get a third headrest for the back seat?

It seems to appear on alot of cars and I wonder about how functional it is and will be. Most of the time I keep two pass. in the back, my two little boys.

A signal light reminder would be nice too, for those turns that the signal light doesn't go off and stays on until you notice it, about .5mile down the road. With my music on all the time around the 15 volume setting it's hard to hear the clicks.